A few years ago the feature article in National Geographic was “The Heavy Cost of Fat.” In this short, but interesting, article the eating patterns of Americans were placed under the microscope. The bottom line was that we are eating more of everything: vegetables, sugars, grains, fruits, fats and oils, and protein. In fact, Americans eat on average 1,775 pounds of food each year, up from 1,497 pounds in 1970, an 18.5% increase. The end result is that one out of three Americans is obese, and the … [Read more...]

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), Jesus introduces the kind of life those who seek the Kingdom of God must lead. His homily could properly be called, “The Righteousness of the Kingdom.” It can be divided into several sections.
(1) The Beatitudes (Matt. 5:1-16): The sermon begins with the Beatitudes (the “blessings”), describing the joys of true discipleship, the blessed way of life. The people of God await the rewards of the promises Jesus makes.
(2) The New Covenant (Matt. … [Read more...]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Each year, after the Paschal Season that extends from the Resurrection Vigil through Pentecost, the Church enters a season that has been nearly forgotten in most circles. In fact, it was in Seminary where I first heard of the fast of the Apostles. This period culminates with the liturgy of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29th. This mini-lent is an opportunity to commit our lives more fully to Jesus Christ, like the other four Lenten seasons of the year: … [Read more...]

A few years ago the feature article in “National Geographic” was, “The Heavy Cost of Fat.” In this short but interesting article, the eating patterns of Americans were placed under the microscope. The bottom line was that we are eating more of everything: vegetables, sugars, grains, fruits, fats and oils, and protein. In fact, Americans eat on average 1,775 pounds of food each year, up from 1,497 pounds in 1970, an 18.5% increase. The end result is that one out of three Americans is obese, … [Read more...]

Each year during the first fifteen days of August our Church honors the Mother of God in a special way. The time period is known as the Dormition Fast. It begins on August 1 and concludes on August 15 with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. During these two weeks the Church observes a small Lent wherein the faithful are invited to renew their relationship with Jesus Christ through fasting, increased prayer, reading of scripture, acts of charity towards the poor, and attendance at special … [Read more...]

“…My brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.” – St. Paul to the Church of the Philippians 3.1
March 7 is the beginning of our Lenten journey, in our Orthodox Tradition we call the first day of Great Lent, Clean Monday. On this day we begin in earnest our efforts to arrive spiritually renewed and prepared on April 24, Pascha, to celebrate the Feast of Feasts our Lord’s resurrection.
Every journey begins by our … [Read more...]

This month on February 13th our Church begins the Triodion, a period of three weeks that precedes the beginning of Great Lent. The Gospel lessons for this period are the Publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18.10-14), the Prodigal Son (Luke 15.11-32) and the Last Judgment (Matthew 25.31-46). These three lessons are meant to help us enter the right spiritual frame of mind before we begin the Great Fast.
The Gospel lessons are straight forward each of them reflects basic spiritual principles of … [Read more...]